Press releases

MINSK, 10 February (BelTA) – The 23^rd edition of the Minsk International Book Fair opened in the Belarusian capital on 10 February, BelTA has learned.

Guests from 29 countries will take part in the event which traditionally opens the calendar of international exhibitions. Among the participating countries is Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, the UK, Venezuela, Germany, Israel, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, the Republic of Korea, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Palestine, Poland, Russia, Syria, the United States, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Finland, France, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Ecuador. Armenia will be the Guest of Honor of this year’s Minsk International Book Fair.

The participants will offer interesting program events, illustrating their best achievements through books. Almost 300 exhibitors will present their novelties.

The program of the exhibition will feature more than 200 events, including the presentation of book projects, meetings with famous Belarusian and foreign writers. A big CIS exposition will mark the 25^th anniversary of the organization. Among the key themes of the exhibition are the Year of Culture and memorable dates. The exhibition will also cover the 30^th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, the 70^th anniversary of the United Nations, the 400^th anniversary since the death of William Shakespeare, and the anniversaries of Maxim Bogdanovich, Ivan Shamyakin, Kondrat Krapiva, Ivan Melezh, Vladimir Mulyavin.

The 2^nd International Literary Symposium entitled Writer and Time: Succession in Literature will gather writers from 15 countries. The project is implemented by the Information Ministry, with the Zvyazda Publishing House, the publishing office Mastatskaya Litaratura and the Union of Belarusian Writers among its main organizers. Partaking in the event will be well-known writers from the CIS and non-CIS countries. A seminar of young writers of Belarus and Russia will make part of the program.

The winners of the 55^th nationwide contest The Art of Book will be presented with awards. The Grand Prix of the contest in the nomination Triumph has been awarded to the book Vladimir Mulyavin. With Heart and Thoughts… (Mastatskaya Litaratura) published to mark the 75^th birthday of the outstanding musician.

The Minsk Internaitonal Book Fair will run through 14 February. The forum is organized by the Information Ministry and the Minsk City Executive Committee. The exhibition will be held at the BelEXPO center in 14 Pobeditelei Avenue.